Automotive electric lighting system



Nov. 26, 19.

H. W. HACK AUTOMOTIVE ELECTRIC LIGHTING SYSTEM Filed May 16, 1959 H4)??? W //4c/r,

INVENTOR.

Patented Nov. 26, 1940 PATENT OFFICE AUTOMOTIVE amc'mlc LIGHTING SYSTEM I Harry W. Hack, Los Angeles, Calif. Application May 16, 1939, Serial No. 273,950

1 Claim.

My invention relates to electric lighting systems for automotive vehicles employing two optionally usable lights in combination with duplicate tail and stop lights.

5 More particularly, the invention pertains to'an automatic change-over system, which when either the high or low filament of a lamp burns out the other filament of the lamp is automatically cut in, and means is provided in the electric cirl cuit in which each high and low filament is included for indicating the good or bad condition of the filament automatically switched to as well as the defectiveness of the filament causing the switch-over.

An important object of the invention is to provide in a lighting system of the above character, means to automatically switch on a second filament of one head lamp while the filaments in the other head lamp remain at a status quo, and

20 simultaneously with the switching from one filament to the other in a single lamp to automatically indicate the defectiveness of the filament of the lamp cut out andthe condition of the filament cut in.

A further object of the invention is to provide in electric lighting systems for automotive vehicles employing head lamps provided with pairs of high and low filament lamps, and switching means for selectively energizing such filaments in pairs, improved and simplified means for effecting an automatic change-over in a single lamp when one or the other of its filaments become defective, while maintaining a status quo of the opposite head lamp and other means for indicating the condition of both filaments of the lamp being afiected, thereby indicating to the driver incident to eflecting a manual switch-over the condition of the filament cut in so that he will be warned ahead of time the proper filament of the opposite headlamp to be brought into coordination with the first without eifecting a change in status of the lamp cut in; in the automatic change-over, if and when a manual switch-over 45 from one pair of filaments to the other is effected and whether or not such manual switching is deemed necessary. Obviously, if one filament becomes defective and such defectiveness is indicated and in the automatic change-over the sec- 50 0nd filament is indicated defective, there need be no alteration made in the filament of the opposite head lamp which was permitted to maintain its status quo as would be the case if the automatic change-over aifected corresponding fila- 55 ments in each head lamp simultaneously.

Other objects, advantages, and features of invention will be apparent from the description following, taken with the accompanying drawing wherein- Fig. 1 is a wiring diagram showing a schematic 5 arrangement of an electric lighting system constructed in accordance with my invention and,

Fig. 2 is a wiring diagram showing ingreater detail modification of one of the instrumentalities shown in Fig. 1. 19

Referring in detail to Fig. 1, we find the invention comprises a pair of head lights 3 and 4, a tail light 5, and a stop light 6. The stop light 6 is shown as being operated by a brake pedal operated switch I and the head lights} and 4 by a manually operable switch 8. There is shown also.

a main switch -9 which controls the energization of the head lights and of the tail light. Switch 9 is connected to abattery Iii. ii, i2, i3, ll, .i5,

' and iii are signal lamps situated on the cowl of the machine to indicate failures of the several lamp filaments and the exact location of the filament when such failure takes place.

The left head light 3 has a high filament 20 and a low filament 2|. The right head light 4 has a high filament 22 and a low filament 23.

The tail light 5 has two filaments 24 and 25, and the stop light 6 has two filaments 25 and 21.

Lamps ii and I4 respectively indicate failures of the high lights of the headlights or filaments p 20 and 22. Lamps i2 and i3 respectively indicate failures of the low lights of the head lights or filaments 2i and 23. Lamp I5 indicates a failure in the filament 25 of the tail light, and lamp it indicates a failure in the filament 26 of the stop light.

In Fig. 2 I show a means for meeting failures in either of the filaments 24 and 21 of the tail light and stop light respectively.

Switch 8 is shown in a full line position for lighting the high filaments 20 and 22 and in a dotted line position for lighting the low filaments 2i and 23. In full line position the switch 8 is shown making contact with terminal 30 to close the circuit to said high filaments, and in dotted line position said switch is shown making contact with terminal 3| to close the circuit to said low filaments.

The main high-beam and low-beam circuits just defined may be divided further so as to state 00 they comprise a left head light high-beam circuit, a right head light high-beam circuit, and a left head light low-beam circuit, and a right head light low-beam circuit. It is possible and considered invention to combine automatically 9. left head light low-beam filament circuit with a right head light high-beam filament circuit and vice versa in order to determine the condition of a particular filament automatically switched to before the corresponding filament of the opposite head light is cut in.

There will also be auxiliary or "failure" circuits (four in all) in which one high and one low filament of each head light will be included.

Considering first the main circuits, wire 35 connects with terminal 30, said wire 35 is shown having two branches, the left branch 38 leading to the high filament 20 of the left head light and the right branch 31 leading to the high filament 22 of the right headlight. Branch 36 is connected in series with a relay 39, a wire 39, an armature 40, a wire 4|, a relay 42, and a wire 43 to complete the circuit to the high filament 20.

Branch 31 is connected in series with a relay 44, a wire 45, an armature 46, and a wire 41 to complete the circuit to the high filament 22.

Wire 48 connects with terminal 3| and is shown having two branches 49 and 50. Branch 49 leads to the low filament 2| of the left head light, and branch 50 leads to the low filament 23 of the right head light.

Branch 49 is connected in series with an armature 5I, a wire 52, a relay 53, and a wire 54 to complete the circuit to the low filament 2I.

Branch 50 is connected in series with a relay 55, a wire 56, an armature 51, and a wire 58 to complete the circuit to the low filament 23.

Now, if either filament 20 or 22 of the highbeam circuit or either filament 2I or 23 of the low-beam circuit become a failure, means is provided to automatically switch in a second (or opposite) filament to illuminate the lamp thus made defective and when such a condition does arise means is provided to indicate to the driver what filament failed, where it is located and the condition of the new filament cut in.

The circuits involved in these automatic change-overs including the means for indicating individual failures of the filaments automatically cut in whereon judgement is predicated as to the advisability-of bringing the corresponding filament of another lamp into conformity with the filament automatically switched to or to .leave it stand will now be set forth in the order of left head light, high filament; right head light, high filament; left head light, low filament; right head light, low filament.

Obviously, it will be advantageous at times to permit the filament of the opposite lamp corresponding to the failure lamp, maintaining its status quo, particularly so if the filament automatically cut in is indicated defective and the operator is driving his machine with the head lights high. Otherwise, if one head light produces a failure in one filament and such filament be a high one and the low filament had been automatically cut in and it was indicated defective, the status quo of the opposite head light is the position the operator would wish to maintain. The advantage of maintaining this status quo position as stated is to save the driver a needless operation and ward off imminent danger were he driving at an excessive speed.

Fixed contact 69 is fastened to branch wire 4i and is operatively related to the armature SI upon de-energization of relays 42 and 38. Armature 6| is in electrical circuit with grounded lamp "I I through the medium of conductor wire 62.

Fixed contact 63 is fastened to branch wire 31 and is operatively related to armature 64 upon de-energization of relay 44. Armature 24 is in electrical'circuit with grounded lamp I4 and grounded relay 5 through the medium of wires 39 and 9!. Wire 31 has a fixed contact 33 fastened to it which is operatively related to the armature 31 upon energization of grounded relay Branch wire 52 has a fixed contact 59 fastened to it which is operatively related to the armature III upon de-energization of the relay 53. Armature I9 is in electrical circuit with lamp I2 and grounded relay II through the medium of wires 12 and I3. Wire 13 has a fixed contact 14 which is operatively related to the armature 45 upon energization of the relay I I.

Branch wire 50 has a fixed contact 15 fastened to it which is operatively related to the armature I6 upon de-energization of relay 55. Armature I8 is in electrical circuit with lamp I3 and grounded relay 11 through the medium of wires 18 and I9. Wire 19 has a fixed contact 39 fastened to it which is operatively related to the armature 46 upon energization of relay II.

From the failure circuits lust described and with particular attention being directed to the circuits involving the filaments of the right head lamp, it will be noted there is no means for indicating the condition of the filaments 22 or 23 at the time one or the other is automatically cut in by failure of the other. The means for indicating such failures of the right head light was purposely omitted in order to accentuate the importance thereof which is shown with reference to the left head light only. Obviously the circuits of the right head light may be made duplicate of those shown for the left headlight.

The circuit for energizing lamp I2 whereby to indicate the condition of filament 2| automatically switched to, if bad, by reason of the failure of filament 25, comprises wire 35, fixed contact II, armature 92, wire 33, relay 84, fixed contact l5, armature 5|, wire 52, fixed contact 69, armature Ill, wire I2, relay II, and wire I3.

In order to indicate the defective condition of filament 20 in addition to filament 2|, we employ all the parts of the condition circuit just described up to wire I3 where we branch off through contact I4, armature 40, wire 4|, contact 69, armature GI, and wire 62 to complete the circuit to lamp II.

The electrical connections to the tail light 5, whereby the filament 25 is energized and upon failure thereof filament 24 is automatically energized and the lamp I5 is energized to indicate to the operator such failure has taken place, comprises a wire 92 fastened to the main switch 9, a wire 93 fastened to the filament 25, and a relay 94 in series with said wires. A fixed contact 95 is fastened to wire 92 and is operatively related to the armature 96 upon de-energization of relay 94. Armature 96 is in electrical circuit with lamp I5 and filament 24 through the medium of wires 91 and 98 respectively.

The stop light circuit whereby the filament 26 is. energized and upon its failure to function means I6 is provided to indicate its failure and a second filament 21 is automatically cut in, comprises the wire I09 having one end connected to wire IilI, which joins the main switch 9 and battery I Ii, and the other end connected to the brake pedal switch I. Wire I02 normally out of circuit conducting relation with switch 'I connects with a relay I53, the relay in turn to a wire I04 and the latter wire is connected to the filament 26. Wire I02 has a fixed contact I05 fastened to it which is operatively related to the armature I88 upon die-energization of the relay I83. Armature I86 is in circuit conducting relation with the filament 21 and lamp I6 through the medium of wires I81 and I88.

It will be obvious from the foregoing description relating to the tail light and stop light that no provision has been made to indicate to the operator whether or not filaments 24 and 21 are faulty.

Such a condition is satisfied in the wiring diagram set forth in Fig. 2 wherein is shown certain parts duplicative of those described with reference to the lamp 8, said duplication being similarly designated.

Additional parts comprise the relay 8 in circuit conducting relation with wire III connecting it with filament 21 and wire 2 connecting it with wire I88. Wire 2 has a fixed contact 3 fastened to it which is operatively related to the armature 4 upon de-energization of the relay II8. Armature H4 is connected to a wire 5 and the wire 5 in turn is connected to the signal lamp H8. Lamp 8 may be positioned on the cowl along with signal lamps II, I2, I3, l4, I5, and I8.

The operation of the system may be readily understood from the foregoing description, but for the sake of additional clearness will be described as follows:

When the main switch 8 is actuated and the manual switch 8 is in the full line position, current will pass through wires 35, 38, relay 38, wire 38, armature 48, wire 4| relay 42, and wire 43 to energize the high filament 28 of the left head light 3. With switch 8 in the same position, current will also pass through wires 35, 31, relay 44, wire 45, armature 46, and wire 41 to energize the high filament 22 of the right head light 4.

When the switch 8 is moved to the dotted line position, current will pass through wires 48, 49, armature 5|, wire 52, relay 53, and wire 54 to energize the low filament 2| of the left head light. With switch 8 in the same position, current will also pass through wires 48, 58, relay 55, wire 58, armature 51, and wire 58 to energize the low filament 23 of the right head light 4.

Simultaneously with the actuation of the main switch 8, current will pass through wire 82, relay 84, and wire 83 to energize-the filament 28 of the tail light 5.

The filament 28 of the stop light is energized by depressing the pedal I, thuspermitting ourrent to pass through wire I82, relay I88, and wire I84.

If, however, when the switch 8 is in the full line position and filament 28 should-fail, relays 38 and 42 will be de-energized, permitting current to pass through contact 88, armature 8|, wire 62, to energize the lamp II.

At the time relay 38 de-energizes, fixed contact 8| contacts armature 82 and current is permitted to pass through 83 to energize grounded relay 84, thence to fixed contact 88', armature 5|, wire 52, relay 53, and wire 84 to light filament 2| of the left headlight while the high filament 22 of the right headlight is permitted to maintain its status quo position.

by switching from the low filament 23 baclr to the high filament 22 were the filament 23 automatically cut in at the same time the automatic change-over was made in the left headlight. If the low filament 2| failed to respond when the filament 28 failed, as its signal I2 would show, naturally the driver would wish the original status quo position of his high filament lamp to continue burning.

In order to apprize the operator of the condition of filament 2| when automatically cut in, if good it will respond and the lamp I2 will remain de-energized.

If, however, filament 2| is defective, when automatically cut in or becomes defective, coil 53 will be de-energized and fixed contact 88 will contact with armature I8, permitting current to pass through wire I2 to energize grounded coil 'II and to energize lamp I2 through the medium of wire I3.

In order to keep lamp II burning, energizing relay II closes fixed contact I4 with armature 48, permitting current to flow through wire 4| to fixed contact 88 and thence through armature BI and wire 62 to lamp II.

If, while the main switch 8 is closed and filament 25 of the tail light fails, its defectiveness will be indicated by the energization of lamp I5 through a circuit completed by wire 82, contact 95, armature 86, and wire 81.

Similarly if the filament 25 of the stop light fails, its defectiveness will be indicated by means of a circuit completed to lamp I8 by means of wire I82, contact I85, armature I86, and wire I88.

If either of the filaments automatically cut in of the stop or tail lights upon failure of the other filament, and the second filament proved to be a failure, its defectiveness would be ascertained from the hook-up shown in Fig. 2, whereby means of the wire I82, contact I85, armature I88, wire II2, contact H3, armature H4, and wire 5 a circuit would be completed to energize lamp H6.

It should be understood that the present disclosure is ior the purpose of illustration only and that this invention includes all modifications and equivalents which fall within the scope of the subject matter claimed.

I claim:

An electric lighting system for automobiles comprising a source of electrical supply, a high filament circuit, a low filament circuit, a manually operated switch having contacts for optionally controlling the fiow of current directly to either the high or low filament circuit from said source, a current responsive means included in each of the high and low filament circuits, means responsive to failure of current in the high filament circuit means when energized to disconnect the low filament circuit means from its manual switch contact and to connect it to the manual switch contact of the high filament circuit means, means responsive to failure of current in the low filament circuit means when energized to disconnect the high filament from the high filament circuit means ancl to connect it to the low filament circuit means and to actuate a low 'filament indicator, further current responsive means responsive to failure of current in the high filament when energized to actuate a high filament indicator, thereby designating the particular filament cut out and the operating eifectiveness of the filament automatically cut in.

HARRY W. HACK. 

